Spirituality

Spirituality News

“Well,” I whisper quietly into Helen’s ear. “What do you think? Is that a man or a woman?”

The tears that blurred my vision a few moments earlier are drying. The palpitations of my heart thumping hard in my chest are easing as well. I sigh and take a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Then another. She does the same.

Together, we stare, bewildered. Together, we consider the long reddish hair that disappears beneath the pink shawl, the slim forlorn white face, and the thin, pale hands. The figure is leaning away from their supposed husband.

When I was in the Marines, one trait that was pounded into our “brain housing groups” was the virtue of integrity.

Integrity…honesty…truthfulness…trustworthiness; these are essential especially in combat situations because lives are on the line, and so these virtues were insisted upon also in training and daily life. Even in training situations, if someone tries to cover a fault or failure by lying, it could cascade quickly into losing Marines.

In this 500th anniversary year of the Reformation, members of the community are invited to participate in a seven-session class titled “By Heart: Conversations with Martin Luther’s Small Catechism,” offered by Bethlehem Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Using video, discussion, and the book of the same name, Pastor Russ Sorensen will lead participants in exploring the biblical and historical context of Luther’s Small Catechism, the concise and accessible teaching guide he wrote for use in the family home.

The United Thrift Shop is holding a $6 bag sale Wednesday, Sept. 13 (excluding jewelry), inside the United Church of Los Alamos at 2525 Canyon Road.

The Thrift Shop is operated by the Women's Christian Service Society. Donations accepted include gently used and clean clothes, linens, housewares, jewelry, shoes, toys and children's books. Items not accepted include large appliances, furniture, books or VHS tapes. Donations may be dropped off any time at the bins near the door at the lower level of Craig Hall.

All who are skilled among you are to come and make everything the LORD has commanded. (Exodus 35:10 NIV)

I received a gift this week from a local artisan. I was looking for a functional and elegant communion goblet; something nice that also said “New Mexico” with a hint of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. The cottonwood goblet that he made was absolutely perfect. Upon seeing it, it became quite obvious to me that this person had a gift that many of us do not have.